NationStates Jolt Archive

BALCO and steroids have become the major center of controversey in the MLB and now Mr. McCain has told the MLB if they don't get tough on 'roids, then the government will. I always thought the MLB was a private organization, shouldnt it handle this problem itself? I don't think steroids should be used in the MLB, it tarnishes the game, but should the government really be getting involved?

You act like Big Brother can still be avoided.

BALCO and steroids have become the major center of controversey in the MLB and now Mr. McCain has told the MLB if they don't get tough on 'roids, then the government will. I always thought the MLB was a private organization, shouldnt it handle this problem itself? I don't think steroids should be used in the MLB, it tarnishes the game, but should the government really be getting involved?

It should take care of it's own problems, but up to now, they are terrible when it comes to doped up players. Their policies are a laugh. They need to clean out the doped players, but then nobody would be playing. I liked how Barry Bonds said "I didn't know I was using steroids!" Yeah sure Barry, wanna buy a bridge from me?

I'm just saying while the topic is fresh on my mind. Steroids are wrong, but the government should be nowhere near dealing with the MLBs problems. Thats for Bud Selig *sigh* to handle.

It should take care of it's own problems, but up to now, they are terrible when it comes to doped up players. Their policies are a laugh. They need to clean out the doped players, but then nobody would be playing. I liked how Barry Bonds said "I didn't know I was using steroids!" Yeah sure Barry, wanna buy a bridge from me?

You're right, plenty of players are using 'roids, but the thing is the MLB can't just track a person's day-to-day life. This DOES NOT mean, however, that the government should do it. Proper punishments need to be applied to caught offenders and thats really all that can be done in this case.

BALCO and steroids have become the major center of controversey in the MLB and now Mr. McCain has told the MLB if they don't get tough on 'roids, then the government will. I always thought the MLB was a private organization, shouldnt it handle this problem itself? I don't think steroids should be used in the MLB, it tarnishes the game, but should the government really be getting involved?

I just wonder if baseball will maintain its popularity after this if they don't get tough on steroids, I wonder if they can salvage it, even if they do.

As to your question, steroid use is illegal in the US as well as the MLB, if the MLB continues to be weak on it, that can be construed as an endorsement of it. The government has every right to crack down on the players and the league if they endorse and practice something that is illegal.

Hell, they ban you for life for gambling (even if you bet on your team to win). Yet these overpaid players are allowed to fail numerous tests. I say you get caught with illegal substances, you are gone forever, banned baby, banned. Now drug testing needs to keep up with drug makers in order to catch new, harder to detect substances.

Hell, they ban you for life for gambling (even if you bet on your team to win). Yet these overpaid players are allowed to fail numerous tests. I say you get caught with illegal substances, you are gone forever, banned baby, banned. Now drug testing needs to keep up with drug makers in order to catch new, harder to detect substances.

That is what I don't understand, so many commentators were saying that Pete Rose's actions were so much worse than Bonds'. I was just sitting there thinking, Bonds CHEATED. He worked to get an unfair advantage. Say what you want about Rose, he broke the rules, yes, but he never tampered with the game. Bonds has tarnished a few of the most important records in baseball, and has brought post strike baseball into doubt.

That is what I don't understand, so many commentators were saying that Pete Rose's actions were so much worse than Bonds'. I was just sitting there thinking, Bonds CHEATED. He worked to get an unfair advantage. Say what you want about Rose, he broke the rules, yes, but he never tampered with the game. Bonds has tarnished a few of the most important records in baseball, and has brought post strike baseball into doubt.

Forget Bonds, McGuire has too. The HR record has become a sham. In '98 it was magical, then after all this steroid stuff came out and Bonds broke it again (what was it, four, five years later?), the record was totally devalued.

Forget Bonds, McGuire has too. The HR record has become a sham. In '98 it was magical, then after all this steroid stuff came out and Bonds broke it again (what was it, four, five years later?), the record was totally devalued.

Yeah, I agree with you there. I was naive back then and wasn't so positive of the widespread steroid use, but I was distressed by the home run race at the time, no one would listen to me when I said it would be broke again within three years.

They cheapened baseball to recover from the strike, and while it may have put butts in the seats, its longterm effects are going to be devastating, I fear.

Hell, I love baseball, but I only watched two games of the world series.

Edit: And we forgot Sammy Sosa, Ken Caminiti, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield

Forget Bonds, McGuire has too. The HR record has become a sham. In '98 it was magical, then after all this steroid stuff came out and Bonds broke it again (what was it, four, five years later?), the record was totally devalued.

Besides the fact that the balls are juiced nowadays, the whole game needs to be brought back to basics. We need better pitching, and better batters. Lets return it to the deadball era style of play.

Hey, the use of drugs to improve performance has been around as long as there's been competition. To act holier-than-thou about steroids is ridicuous. When I first started watching basball in the seventies, players were using speed to improve their game, and I have no doubt that players before that were using whatever snake oil medicine they could get their hands on if they thought it would give them a little more pop at the plate.

Professional sports--and amateur sports for that matter--have never been clean and we're kidding ourselves to think otherwise.

I think it bears mentioning that the reason the government feels it has a right to interfere in MLB, or any sports leagues, is because they are all exempt from anti-trust laws.

Hey, the use of drugs to improve performance has been around as long as there's been competition. To act holier-than-thou about steroids is ridicuous. When I first started watching basball in the seventies, players were using speed to improve their game, and I have no doubt that players before that were using whatever snake oil medicine they could get their hands on if they thought it would give them a little more pop at the plate.

Professional sports--and amateur sports for that matter--have never been clean and we're kidding ourselves to think otherwise.

Doesnt mean we can't try to catch the trouble-makers...

Baseball is an issue of national concern, and when they refuse to police themselves (players union), they leave no choice but for the government to step in and try to fix something which employs many thousands of Americans. Remember, tax payers pay for these stadiums so players can make 15 million a year, thus, it's a matter of public policy.

Baseball, national issue? that's a laugh. The MLB is a private organization, not a government one.

Baseball, national issue? that's a laugh. The MLB is a private organization, not a government one.

Since it's given all sorts of governmental leeway, the government does get a say.

Doesnt mean we can't try to catch the trouble-makers...
My point is that we ought to at least consider giving up the facade that any type of sportsis clean or ever will be clean from doping. Personally, I would never use steroids--I like the current size of my penis and don't want it shrinking to the size of a maraschino cherry stem--but if someone, an adult, is willing to chance the long term side effects in search of some greater athletic glory, then who am I to stand in the way?

It should be noted, as well, that steroid usage alone won't make you a better ballplayer. You've got to have talent to begin with. Apparently, while Bonds was using, so was Bobby Estalella. Bobby who? Right. Steroids did him a hell of a lot of good. They certainly made Bonds stronger, but they didn't increase his hand-eye coordination, or his ability to get around on the inside fastball.

My point is that we ought to at least consider giving up the facade that any type of sportsis clean or ever will be clean from doping. Personally, I would never use steroids--I like the current size of my penis and don't want it shrinking to the size of a maraschino cherry stem--but if someone, an adult, is willing to chance the long term side effects in search of some greater athletic glory, then who am I to stand in the way?

It should be noted, as well, that steroid usage alone won't make you a better ballplayer. You've got to have talent to begin with. Apparently, while Bonds was using, so was Bobby Estalella. Bobby who? Right. Steroids did him a hell of a lot of good. They certainly made Bonds stronger, but they didn't increase his hand-eye coordination, or his ability to get around on the inside fastball.

That is true that you need to be good to begin with, but steroid use is just dampening your reputation. Do it cleanly and you'll have respect.

Thus, the federal government can get involved.

That is true that you need to be good to begin with, but steroid use is just dampening your reputation. Do it cleanly and you'll have respect.
I'd imagine that there are a lot of people who believe, rightly or wrongly, that if they don't use, they won't have the chance to get a reputation worth damaging.

baseball's policy is a JOKE. the NFL and minor league baseball have much stricter policy. track and field, and some other internation sports, are insanely stricter, like one time caught, banned for season, next time, banned for life. it's sickening. bonds' record should be removed, or *'d, maris should go back in. they should all be randomly tested at least 3 times during the season, i don't care about this "right to privacy" crap the player's union talks about. next negotiation, i'm rooting for the owners unless the players get real and see that fans care about this.

Love the Game, Hate the Players.

It should be noted, as well, that steroid usage alone won't make you a better ballplayer. You've got to have talent to begin with. Apparently, while Bonds was using, so was Bobby Estalella. Bobby who? Right. Steroids did him a hell of a lot of good. They certainly made Bonds stronger, but they didn't increase his hand-eye coordination, or his ability to get around on the inside fastball.

Bobby Estalella's struggles aside, steroid use obviously can make you a better hitter. Bat speed is the single most important aspect to being a hitter, look Soriano and Vlad Guerrero, absolutely no judgement of the strike zone, but their tremendous bat speed allowed them to reach bad pitches. I think the benefits of Bonds's steroid use should be obvious.

Bonds would have made the hall of fame without steroids, but he should never make the hall of fame with them.

Bobby Estalella's struggles aside, steroid use obviously can make you a better hitter. Bat speed is the single most important aspect to being a hitter, look Soriano and Vlad Guerrero, absolutely no judgement of the strike zone, but their tremendous bat speed allowed them to reach bad pitches. I think the benefits of Bonds's steroid use should be obvious.

Bonds would have made the hall of fame without steroids, but he should never make the hall of fame with them.That's just it--I don't think it's obvious that steroids will make you a better ballplayer. And have either Soriano or Guerrero been implicated in this scandal yet? If they have, I've missed it--there's nothing to suggest that bicep strength automatically translates into bat speed, and more importantly, the ability to make solid contact. I could roid up for the next ten years and it wouldn't help me hit a curveball. Sure, I'd like it better if the game were clean, but the game's never been clean and it's not going to be any time soon. With the amount of money involved, it's just too tempting to expect everyone to voluntarily stay clean. And except for some untrue sense of nostalgia about the "way the game used to be," why should they? If they're willing to risk the long term health issues, then I say let them.

That's just it--I don't think it's obvious that steroids will make you a better ballplayer. And have either Soriano or Guerrero been implicated in this scandal yet? If they have, I've missed it--there's nothing to suggest that bicep strength automatically translates into bat speed, and more importantly, the ability to make solid contact. I could roid up for the next ten years and it wouldn't help me hit a curveball. Sure, I'd like it better if the game were clean, but the game's never been clean and it's not going to be any time soon. With the amount of money involved, it's just too tempting to expect everyone to voluntarily stay clean. And except for some untrue sense of nostalgia about the "way the game used to be," why should they? If they're willing to risk the long term health issues, then I say let them.

Bonds was a consistently good 30-40 home run a year player throughout the 90's, then he hit 49 and 73.

Ken Caminiti admitted to using steroids the year prior and the year that he won the MVP. Giambi admitted to using steroids in the years prior to winning the MVP.

I admit that they were good players before steroids, but I have to say that extra strength is going to be a benefit to power hitters.

steroids could make the difference between a hitting a double and hitting a homer. and for a lot of people, homers are more important. nobody appreciates the contact hitters anymore...Sigh...
i for one like doubles more, cuz having guys on base usually makes people keep getting hits.